Nigel Owens: The Final Whistle

It’s rare for a referee in any sport to be popular, yet Nigel Owens has always courted strong affection throughout the world – he is loved by players, coaches, officials, TV commentators and even fans. A real character, some of his famous put-downs whilst lecturing players – such as ‘This is not soccer’, have gone viral on social media. The best rugby referee of his generation, Nigel also has an incredible backstory to tell. After coming through dark times, during which he tried to take his own life, he was the first leading figure in the macho world of rugby union to come out openly as gay and went on to command respect everywhere for his honesty off the pitch and ability as a referee on it. This is an inspirational story of triumph over adversity, hope over despair. It all makes for a truly compelling read. The hardback version of this autobiography is a bestseller, widely seen as the rugby book of the year when it came out in 2022.